This is why we really should be looking forward to old age

Stereotypes, general attitudes and the occasional distasteful joke on a birthday card can, for some, leave them dreading old age. But, although our maturing years definitely indicate a very different chapter in our lives, there's nothing to say that it has to be a worse one. They aren't called the 'golden years' for nothing, after all.

Which is why we are delighted to share the results of some new research with you which confirms what we have been thinking all along: our later years are to be embraced, enjoyed and possibly even treated as some of our very best.

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In a new survey, the Royal Voluntary Service found that two thirds of people over 70 claim they are "happier then they have ever been," with half adding that they are in the "prime of their life."

So why is that?

The study's participants said that worrying less, no longer caring about what people think and having more time to indulge in activities that they genuinely enjoy all contribute to their feeling of empowerment and life satisfaction.

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When the survey - which was conducted to celebrate the charity's GrandFest event - asked the 1,500 adults what truly makes them happy, they thanked physical exercise, enjoyable mental challenges and seeing loved ones for their joyous lifestyle.

Chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service, David McCullough, said, "It's heartening to find out so many people say life gets better as you age," reported Huffington Post.

"Those flourishing in older age are the ones keeping active and engaged and continuing to enjoy their hobbies."

Obviously, individual circumstances can have a big impact on how easy and satisfying we find life day-to-day but, even if the notion of being happier as you age is simply a new attitude or a stigma-breaking headline, we will embrace it wholeheartedly.